News Archive for August 30, 2018

Trump Foundation Says New York State Probe Is Rooted in Political Bias
Lawyers for President Donald Trump’s family foundation accused the New York attorney general’s office of bias, claiming the state’s former AG used an investigation of the charity to advance his own political career.

South Korean Soccer Star Needs to Beat Japan or Report for Duty
If the country’s team wins its gold-medal match against Japan in the Asian Games, Son Heung-min will be exempt from the bulk of the 21 months of military duty South Korean law requires of able-bodied men.

City Says Brooklyn-Queens Streetcar Still a Go But Needs $1 Billion Federal Boost
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has pumped life into fading hopes of building a more than $2 billion streetcar linking Queens and Brooklyn.

Mysteries: Dusting Off Those Little Gray Cells
Sophie Hannah’s third “New Hercule Poirot Mystery” proves to be the most satisfying sort of pastiche: faithful to its model in the essentials but flexible enough to allow for an animated plot and protagonist.

‘Attention’ Review: Anatomist of Our Disorder
Any attempt at drawing a summary line around Joshua Cohen’s first collection of nonfiction prose—its variousness, its frightening range of ideas or its abundance of voices—would be like rounding up a pack of clever raccoons with a shoelace.

‘The Last Palace’ Review: History Happened Here
The story of Czechoslovakia, as reflected in the turbulent life of a Jewish banker’s extravagant villa, which would later host Wehrmacht bosses, Soviet invaders, Czech dissidents—and Shirley Temple.

Children’s Books: The Young Person’s Guide to Grievance
Ah, youth! A time of energy and promise and now, apparently, of apoplectic grievance, to judge from the cornucopia of rebellious fare that awaits young readers this fall.

Umpire’s Pep Talk to Nick Kyrgios Stirs Controversy at the U.S. Open
The actions of chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani drew laughs and criticism, including from Roger Federer, who said the umpire’s role isn’t to go down from the chair.

Trump to Freeze Pay Raises for Civilian Federal Employees
President Trump said he would freeze the pay of more than two million civilian federal workers next year, citing the growth of federal spending. Democrats denounced the move in a time of tax cuts and vigorous economic growth.

Fresh Stress Grips World’s Weakest Emerging-Market Currencies
The Argentine peso hit a record low and the Turkish lira resumed its slide, dramatizing the strains faced by emerging markets most vulnerable to a rising dollar.

California Advances Net-Neutrality Rules in Rebuke to Trump FCC
California moved to reinstate Obama-era open-internet rules, challenging Trump administration rollback efforts and setting the state on a path to have the strongest net-neutrality rules in the nation.

Declassified Interrogation Reports Show How Iran Shaped Iraq War
Recently declassified U.S. interrogation reports shed new light on one of Iraq’s most prominent Shiite political figures and Iran’s role in training and arming Iraqi militias that attacked U.S. troops during the Iraq War.

Photos of the Day: Aug. 30
In photos selected Thursday by Wall Street Journal editors, students honor Lord Shiva in Mumbai, Arizonans say goodbye to their senator, a Rodin work in Copenhagen gets a presidential visit, and more.

Signet Surges After Surprise Sales Growth
Shares of Signet Jewelers Ltd. surged 25% on Thursday after the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry reported positive same-store sales growth for the first time in a year.

‘The Lion in Winter’ and ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ Reviews: Resort-Town Theater That’s Worth the Trip
James Goldman’s speculative portrayal of the struggle for power when Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine clashed over which of their sons should succeed the king and Joseph Kesselring’s black comedy about warm-hearted old ladies who put their lonely male boarders out of their misery are treats for visitors to Cape May, N.J.

New York City Says Horse Carriages Will Move Inside Central Park
New York City’s horse carriages will move into Central Park and pick up passengers at designated locations in an effort to improve conditions for the animals, marking Mayor Bill de Blasio’s latest attempt at reining in the industry.

Dollar-Store Sales Rise, Though Shoppers Feel Pressure of Rising Costs
Dollar General and Dollar Tree reported stronger sales in the latest quarter, but executives from both chains said Thursday that their customers are feeling pressure from rising rents and other monthly expenses.

Trump Says Sessions Will Stay Through November Elections
President Trump said he has no immediate plans to remove Attorney General Jeff Sessions from office until at least after the November congressional elections.

Trans Mountain Pipeline Project Blocked by Canadian Court
The appeals court annulled regulatory approval, dealing a blow to the country’s Liberal government after it struck a deal to acquire the corridor from Kinder Morgan.

Pipeline Stocks Stage a Comeback
Revved up earnings, thanks to record U.S. oil and gas production, and clarity on a federal tax ruling have lifted shares of energy master limited partnerships, which own and operate pipelines.

Kaepernick Allowed to Proceed With Grievance Against NFL
The arbitrator overseeing a closely watched grievance filed by Colin Kaepernick denied the NFL’s request ruling for a summary judgment to dismiss the case.

SEC Chairman Wants to Let More Main Street Investors In on Private Deals
The Securities and Exchange Commission wants to make it easier for individuals to invest in private companies, including some of the world’s hottest investments, which have been out of reach for many people, the agency’s chairman said in an interview.

Dispute Over Naval Mission Deepens EU Fissures on Migration Policy
A naval operation that has rescued tens of thousands of migrants in the Mediterranean hung in the balance Thursday, as a new Italian government intent on overhauling Europe’s migration policy threatened to scrap it.

‘Big Red Machine’ Review: Playing to Their Strengths
Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Aaron Dessner of the National have taken a collaboration from 2009 and turned it into a full-fledged project that sounds like trip-hop-inflected rock from years past.

Electronic Arts Delays ‘Battlefield V’ Release
Electronic Arts has delayed the release of its ‘Battlefield V’ game by one month to make some final adjustments after receiving feedback from the gaming community.

Wells Fargo Fires Bankers Amid Probe of Dinner Receipts
Wells Fargo has fired or suspended more than a dozen employees in its investment bank and is investigating dozens of others over alleged violations of the company’s expense policy on after-hours meals.

German City Becomes Rallying Point for Anti-Immigration Protests
The German city of Chemnitz saw renewed anti-immigration protests Thursday, five days after the violent death of a resident turned the city into a rallying point for far-right opponents of the government’s refugee policy.

Trump’s Nafta Rewrite Holds Promise for Labor Unions
Labor unions, a traditional adversary of the Republican Party, could be a winner in President Trump’s planned rewrite of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Crispr Used to Repair Gene Mutation in Dogs With Muscular Dystrophy
Researchers used a gene-editing tool to repair a gene mutation in dogs with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, an important step in efforts to someday use the tool to edit DNA in people with the same fatal disease.

Weidmann Says Euro-Area Budget Could Be a Good Thing
Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann signaled that he might support the creation of a common eurozone budget that could help improve the region’s competitiveness, but only as part of a reform of EU funds.

Iran in Compliance With Nuclear Deal, U.N. Agency Says
A confidential report from the International Atomic Energy Agency confirms the country’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal. The report comes as tensions between Iran and the West have sharpened.

Applebee’s Franchisee Misses Goal of Filing Details on Roads Out of Bankruptcy
“Disappointed” creditor and “dissatisfied” lender still await reorganization plan, sales procedures but give RMH more time

Kavanaugh Has a Judicial Record, Unlike Elena Kagan
Justice Kagan’s White House documents were her only historical records because she had no record as a judge before moving into a top spot on the U.S. Supreme Court. Even then, Republicans looked at her “qualifications” and confirmed her.

The Rebellious New Power Suit for Women
Once upon a time, female suiting was drably designed to blend in with men. This fall, fashion is pivoting to more expressive versions that happily scorn conformity.

EU Trade Official Proposes Ending All Car Tariffs With U.S.
The European Union’s top trade official proposed going beyond a U.S.-EU trade plan agreed at the White House last month and eliminating all car tariffs.

Archdiocese of San Juan Files for Bankruptcy Amid Pension Fight
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Juan, Puerto Rico, filed for bankruptcy amid a legal battle with pensioners that the archdiocese says could have devastating consequences for its parishioners and religious mission.

China’s ZTE Reports $1.1 Billion Loss
The telecommunications giant disclosed a loss of 7.8 billion yuan—about $1.1 billion—during the first half of the year, after a ban on purchasing American supplies forced a life-threatening shutdown of the company.

Campbell Soup to Sell Global Business and Fresh Unit
Campbell Soup plans to sell its international and refrigerated-foods businesses, abandoning its fresh-food push and leaving the door open to a full sale.

Six Indispensable Apps for Business Travelers
The smartphone apps that will help globe-trotters sleep soundly, dine wisely, tip shrewdly and stay out of trouble. Plus: Worldly etiquette advice from the Air Force.

The A-hed
‘We’re Spending Our Hard-Earned Money to Dress Up Like Carpet.’ The Tight-Knit World of Rug Fans
These are the people who are obsessed with carpet and rug patterns in hotels, airports and office buildings; Dragon Con at the Marriott.

Using Smartphones in Meetings: A Super-Stern Etiquette Guide
Digital devices have helped us become our most productive selves—except during business meetings. Here, we imagine a memo outlining some key new rules.

Trump’s Ambassador to Austria Lists San Francisco’s Priciest Rental Home
U.S. envoy Trevor Traina is asking $55,000 a month for a Bay Area home that includes an art collection with pieces from Damien Hirst, Diane Arbus and Andy Warhol.

Maersk Tanker Tests Wind Power to Cut Soaring Fuel Costs
Marine fuel prices are soaring and the shipping industry is looking for ways to harness ocean winds to power oceangoing vessels. Danish shipping company Maersk Tankers said it has installed devices that are effectively high-tech sails that could cut the vessel’s fuel bill by up to 10%.

Your DNA, Your Diet: How Nutrition Is Being Personalized
A growing number of companies are seizing on consumer interest in learning more about their bodies to optimize their diets based on their DNA profile.

The ‘Trump Slump’: With a Friend in the White House, Gun Sales Sag
Turbocharged by the threat of bans and restrictions, U.S. weapons sales accelerated during the Obama administration, especially for the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle. An industry that thrived on panic over gun control now aims for a new approach.

Balance Sheet
Transforming a Garage Into a $30,000 Private Tiki Hut
When his wife wouldn’t let him bring his oddball collection in, one man converted his parking area into a 20-seat Polynesia-theme bar and museum.

Essay
Cultural Borrowing Is Great; The Problem Is Disrespect
Who owns yoga—or “talking black” or Samurai regalia? No one, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK to use them in ways that ridicule or exploit the cultures they come from.

Banned From Facebook, Myanmar’s Top General Finds Russian Refuge
The Myanmar army chief whom U.N. investigators want to prosecute for genocide has sought refuge at Russian social-media site VK after being banned from Facebook.

Merrill to Resume Commissions on Retirement Accounts
Merrill Lynch is nixing a ban on charging commissions in retirement accounts, marking a reversal for a Wall street brokerage that has said fee-based services are better for clients.

Canadian Exports Drive Solid Second-Quarter Growth
The Canadian economy rebounded in the second quarter with its best performance in a year, powered by one of the strongest export gains this decade and an acceleration in consumer spending.

Core Inflation Hits Fed’s 2% Target as Spending Heats Up
A key measure of underlying inflation accelerated last month to the fastest annual clip since 2012, as robust spending by consumers and businesses pushed up prices across the economy.

Shares in MTN Sink After Nigeria Demands It Return $8 Billion
Shares in African telecom giant MTN Group plunged as much as 25% after Nigeria’s central bank ordered the company to return $8.1 billion that it said was moved out of the country illegally.

U.S. Jobless Claims Rose Slightly Less Than Expected Last Week
The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for unemployment benefits rose slightly last week after three straight weeks of decline, though a more stable measure of claims hit the lowest level in nearly five decades.

ICBC, World’s Biggest Bank, Posts 4.9% Net-Profit Rise
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, the world’s biggest bank by assets, is also China’s most profitable, with a boost from a government campaign to discourage risky lending.

VW Earnings to Be Hit by Delays in Meeting New Emissions Rules
Volkswagen warned earnings could be hit by up to $1.17 billion because of delays in certifying new vehicles to meet stricter European emissions testing rules.

New Jersey Lawmakers Try to Wrangle Pension Problem
New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney is once again pushing to rein in pension costs, setting up another standoff with the state’s public-employee unions.

In Arizona, Two Ironman Veterans Race for Senate Seat
Arizona Reps. Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally are competing to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Jeff Flake in what is believed to be the first Senate matchup between two Ironman World Championship finishers.

New Samsonite CEO’s Lessons From the Short-Selling Crisis
Kyle Gendreau, an executive at Samsonite, was in New York winding down after a conference in May when he received an urgent call from a colleague in Hong Kong. A short seller in Texas had just released a 48-page report.

South Korean President Replaces Five Ministers
South Korean President Moon Jae-in, facing growing discontent over the economy and setbacks on North Korean disarmament, replaced five members of his cabinet, including the defense, trade and labor ministers.

Heard on the Street
Unpacking Samsonite Has Led to the Right Result
The luggage maker’s shares were hammered by a short seller’s report earlier this summer. Despite their partial recovery since, the company is no longer viewed as a luxury-goods stock.

U.S.-Mexico Trade Pact Faces Scrutiny From Lawmakers at Home
The deal announced by the two countries’ leaders this week now faces scrutiny from their respective legislators, who ultimately must ratify the agreement.

Schools Crack Down as More Students Cut Class
The growing problem of children skipping school has districts across the country experimenting with solutions, from punishments to rewards. But educators are divided about what approach works.

SoftBank Pulls Plug on Plans to Invest in Chinese Tesla Rival
Japan’s SoftBank, which was in talks earlier this year to take a stake in Chinese electric-vehicle maker NIO, has decided not to invest in the Shanghai-based startup’s initial public offering.

Indexers Help Cram China Into World’s Investment Portfolios
Global investors have poured record sums into Chinese stocks and bonds this year, lending Beijing a hand as it struggles with a slowing, debt-laden economy and a weakening currency.

Vodafone Hutchison Australia and TPG Telecom to Merge
Telecommunications company TPG Telecom will merge with rival Vodafone Hutchison Australia in an effort to challenge the country’s two large operators.

More Shareholders Vote Against Executive Pay Proposals in U.K.
More shareholders voted against executive-pay resolutions at U.K. companies this proxy season than last year, and some companies got strong dissent for these resolutions for the second year running.

San Francisco Denies Scooter Permits for Bird, Lime, Uber and Lyft
The nation’s tech capital dealt a blow to the largest shared-scooter companies on Thursday, awarding two smaller startups exclusive rights to rent the electric-powered vehicles for a year in a decision that could change the course of the nascent market.

Ex-Police Officer Gets 15 Years in Black Teenager’s Death in Texas
A white former police officer was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of murdering an unarmed boy while firing into a car with black teenagers leaving a party in suburban Dallas.